RESIDENTS and businesses are being asked to plan ahead as a large swathe of York city centre will be closed to traffic for up to ten hours when the Tour de France comes to the city at the weekend.

The roads used for the race will be closed to vehicles from 4am until about 1.30pm on Sunday (July 6), or as soon as possible after the race leaves York.

Drivers are being warned that there is no parking on the race route from 7pm on Saturday night until about 1.30pm on Sunday, and any vehicles left parked up will be removed.

Key sections of the route will be kept open as long as possible and reopened as soon as it is practical to do so after the race to minimise disruption and the A64 bridge south of York will be the only route across the river Ouse during the race.

The A1237 Northern Ring Road will be closed at the A19 and Wetherby Road roundabouts, except for access to Poppleton.

For stage 1 of the race in North Yorkshire on Saturday route residents and businesses must move vehicles from 7 pm on Friday until the race has gone through and the road is re-opened.

In Harrogate town centre vehicles will not be able to park on roads where parking has been suspended from 12:01 am until about 10pm on Saturday, but it could be later depending on spectator dispersal and the removal of race infrastructure.

Highways Agency Emergency Planning Manager, Guy Huckle, said: “The key to making the most of this wonderful weekend is to plan ahead. Choose in advance where you want to watch the race from and plan your journey.

"Check our traffic and travel information channels, set off early and allow plenty of time to get to your chosen spot. The large number of visitors to the region means journeys will take longer than usual over the weekend.”


Roads closed along the route in York on Sunday include:

Start: York Racecourse

Campleshon Road

Bishopthorpe Road

Bishopgate Street (Skeldergate Bridge)

Tower Street

Clifford Street

Nessgate

Spurriergate

Coney Street

St Helen’s Square

Davygate

St Sampson Square

Church Street

Goodramgate

Deangate

Minster Yard

Duncombe Place

St Leonards Place

Bootham A19

Clifton

Clifton Green

Water End

Boroughbrdge Road

A59 to Harrogate